Letter from MHC’s Presidents, continued...
Our Geographic Distribution While every county in Maryland is a horse county, the counties with the highest percentage of respondents were, not surprisingly, the coun- ties with the highest density of horses. Montgomery County residents accounted for 16.1% of the respondents, followed by Howard County (14.9%), Anne Arundel County (11.2%), and Frederick County (9.3%). Just below 9 percent of the respondents were from Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, and Prince George’s County, each ac- counting for 7.5% of the respondents. Eventing was the most popular discipline among barns in Montgom-
ery County – a full 50 percent of the respondents said they cater to that discipline. A third of the Montgomery County respondents (34.6%) ca- ter to show hunters, 31.% cater to show jumpers, and 23% picked equita- tion. Just under a fifth (19.7%) selected each field hunter/foxchasing, and another fifth (19.7%) selected classical dressage. Over a third of our Howard County respondents focus on show hunt-
ers (37.5%), while 30% of them focus on equitation, eventing, or field hunter/foxchasing. In Anne Arundel, 41% of the respondents cater to eventing and 35% focus on show hunters (35%). A third of the Frederick County respondents focus on eventing. More of our Baltimore County respondents cater to field hunters/
foxchasing and hunter pacing (35% each) than any other discipline. Fifty percent of our Harford County respondents said they are show hunter barns. A third of our Carroll County respondents (33.33%) cater to show jumping. In Southern Maryland, Calvert County accounted for 3.1% of the
respondents, St. Mary’s County for 1.9%, and Charles County for 1.2%. Te most frequently selected discipline was a tie - between equitation (40%) and show hunters (40%). In Western Maryland, Washington County had the most respondents (2.5%) while Garrett County represented .6% of the respondents. Sixty percent of the respondents in Western Maryland said they cater to the Western disciplines: reining, ranch riding, Western/Cowboy Dressage, and Western Show. On the Eastern Shore, Worcester County was the most represented with 3.1% of the responses, followed by Cecil County (1.9%), Talbot County (1.9%), and Kent County (1.2%). Each of Caroline, Dorches- ter, Queen Anne, Somerset, and Wicomico counties represented 0.06% of the survey respondents. Te most frequently selected discipline on the Eastern Shore was a tie between eventing (40% of respondents) and show hunters (40%).
Our Clinics and Competitions An impressive 37.9% or our respondents offer clinics, including with outside trainers, to their boarders and students as well as to those wish- ing to trailer in. Another 18.6% host schooling competitions on their properties. And 7.5% of our stables undertake that substantial additional expense and effort to host licensed or sanctioned competitions.
* * * * * Te depth and strength of our sport horse barns are impressive when
one considers that the number of properties suitable for boarding, train- ing, and competition is dwindling. Tat is why we encouraged Howard County to repair the drainage and fix the footing at Schooley Mill Park. Tat is why we are encouraging Anne Arundel County to restore eques- trian access to the Bacon Ridge trail system. Tat is why we encourage DNR to keep equestrian trail safety in mind, and why our members vol- unteer at venues and in the parks. Preserving our opportunities, especially opportunities for equestrian
participants in more suburban areas, requires vigilance. As one respon- dent said: “My farm is too small for clinics and competitions. We need public facilities available to rent for clubs and groups to use. Keep Bowie racetrack for these types of equestrian sport use as a ‘stadium’ use.” Tat is certainly a project we can all work on together.
Our Breeders Of our 36 respondents who are breeders, more of them (16%) breed
Hanoverians than any other breed. Of the rest, 13.8% breed Torough- breds, 8.3% breed Morgans, 8.3% breed Warmbloods, 5.5% breed Irish Sport Horses, 5.5% breed Holsteiners, 5.5% breed Welsh Ponies, and 5.5% breed Highland Ponies. We also had one respondent for each of Andalusians, Carolina Marsh Tackies, Clydesdales, Draft Crosses, Frie- sians, Iberians, Oldenburgs, Paints, Percherons, Quarter Horses, and Trakheners.
join.mdhorsecouncil.org 8 | JUNE 2023 | THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION 800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
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